Sign.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

i E. B. WOLFE.

SIGN.

APPLICATION rum) um. 21, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR EigarBWnlfz,

PATENTBD MAR. 24, .1908.

E. B. WOLFE SIGN APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1907.

mm. r mw & w Mi m m R M w w m w w ATTORNEYS Tm: name: PETERS co" wasumarcu, n. c.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.- E. B. WOLFE. 8

sum. I APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21, 1907.

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, mvtmon; E5arRWn1fe I BY ATTORNEYS WITN sis." 717%? m,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR B. WOLFE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1907.

latented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 393,899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR B. WOLFE, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marl ed thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to that class of inventions known in the art as illuminated or electric signs; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly to a novel construction of sign, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth, and a novel means for securing the letter-plates in position upon one or both sides of the sign-frame, providing a simple means for more easily and quietly securing said letter-plates in their respective positions, and also to readily remove one or more of said plates when nec essary. I

. This invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed sign and frame-work or support for the letter-plates, and a novel means for more readily securing each letter-plate in its position, than is at present the case.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly evident from the following description of the same.

With the various objects of my present invention in view, the said invention consists primarily in the novel construction of sign hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, the invention consists in the various arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well. as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following speci fication, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a face view of the one side of a 'slgn made according to and embodying the principles of this invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, with the letterplates upon the one side of the sign-frame shown removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsec-' tion of the sign, the letter-plates upon the one side of the frame shown removed, said View illustrating more particularly the inner construction of the sign-frame, and a series of finding-means or devices for securing each individual letter-plate in position. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 44 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow as; and Fig. 5 is a similar section, taken on line 55 in said Fig. 2, looking in the same direction. Fig. 6 is a detail rear view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of a letter-plate and lower portion of the sign-frame, part of which is represented in section, and a rear-face view of one of the finding means or devices for securing the letter-plate in position; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the same, said section being taken on line 7-7 in said Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail rear view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of a letter-plate and'upper portion of the sign-frarne, part of which is represented in section, and a rear face-view of one of a series of pivoted clamping means or devices for securing the letter-plate in position; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the same, said section being taken on line 9-9 in said. Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to

indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the complete sign, and 2 is a rectan ular or other suitably shaped frame-body or e ement, preferably made of sheet-metal, but which may be constructed of wood or other suitable material, as will be clearly evident.

The frame -body or element, shown in the accompanying drawings, com rises the closed end-pieces 3 and 4, the c osed toppiece 5 and closed bottom-piece 6, and the open front 7 and open rear 8, said open front and rear being surrounded by inwardly extending marginal flanges 9, substantially as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. Wrought or other suitably formed reinforcing braces 10 and 11, are arranged upon the inner faces of the end-pieces 3 and 4 and the top-piece 5 and bottom-piece 6, said braces being preferably made L-shaped in crosssection, and being secured in place by means of screws or bolts 12 and nuts 13. Angle-irons or lates 14 may also be secured in the corners fbrmed by said braces 10 and 11, said angle-irons or plates being secured in place by means of screws or bolts 15 and nuts 16. If desired, cross-stays or rods, as 17, may extend from one brace 11 to the other brace 11, across the interior of the frame which is thus provided, said cross-stays being I secured at their ends to the respective braces 1.1 by means of screws or bolts 18 and nuts 19.

The reference-character 20 indicates suitably formed face-plates, at the ends of the two faces of the said frame, and the reference-character 21 represents any suitable number of letter-plates, the said face-plates and letter-plates havin their vertical edgeportions made to over ap, substantially as shown, and being detachably secured against the marginal flanges 9 by means of the fastening means or devices of the construction to be presently more fully described.

Each letter-plate 21 is provided upon its face with a suitably formed character 22, such as a letter, a number, monogram, or the like, and is provided with the usual holes or openings 23, for the reception of the usual incandescent lamps, or lamp-sockets or re ceptacles, said lamps, or sockets or receptacles, however, not being shown in the ac companying drawings, because they are wellknown, and may be of any suitable construction.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have shown therein, one form of a series of fastening means or clamping devices for securing the upper portion of said end face-plates 20 and the letter-plates 21 over the open faces of the sign-frame, so that their upper edges will be clamped against the flanges 9, in the manner illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and.

9 of the drawings. As shown in said figures of the drawings, each fastening means or clamping device consists, essentially, of a short plate or bar-like element 24 which is provided in its upper portion with a screwthreaded hole 25 for the screwing therein of the screw-threaded shank of a screw 26.

The upper edge-portions of said face-plates and letter-plates being arranged upon the outer face of the flanges 9, and the upper and short end-portions of said plates or bar-like elements 24 being arranged against the inner face of the flanges 9, the screws 26 are inserted through suitably disposed holes 27 in said face or letter-plates, the screw-threaded shank of said screws being screwed in the opposite'ly located screw-holes 25 of the plates or elements, whereby, when the screws 26 are tightly screwed home, the parts will be firmly and securely clamped in their assembled relations, as will be clearly evident.

By referring to Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the lower edgeportions of said end face-plates 20 and the etter-plates 21 may be secured over the open faces of the sign-frame, and against the flanges 9, by means of slidably arranged binding means or clamping devices. As shown in said figures of the drawings, each binding means or device consists, essentially, of a short plate or bar-like element 28 u on the face of which is arranged a retainingp ate 29 of sheet metal, or other suitable material. Said retaining plate 29 has its upperedge-portion bent or formed in a manner, so as to provide a holding member 32, which is fitted over and embraces the upper edge-portion of the plate or bar-like element 28, being suitably secured in place, preferably, by means of a rivet 31, or other suitable fastening means. The lower end-portion of said retaining plate 29, which referably extends slightly away from the ower art of said element 28, is bent or former in such a manner, so as to provide a holding member 30 for the support therein of the lower edgeortions of the end face-plates and the letter-p lates, as will be clearly under stood from an inspection of the drawings. Each plate or bar-like element 28 is provided in its lower portion with a screw-threaded hole 33, which is preferably made tapering, as at 34, so as to provide an enlarged open end, and each retainin plate 29 is formed with a correspondingly ocated hole or opening 35 for the insertion therein of the screwthreaded shank of a screw 36. The lower portions of said plates or bar-like elements 28 and the lower portions of said retaining plates 29 being arranged upon the opposite faces of the flange 9, with the lower marginal edgeportions of the face-plates and the letterplates resting in the holding members 30, the screws 36 are inserted through suitably disposed holes 37 in said face or letter-plates, the screws being inserted through the holes or openings 35 and screwed into the screwthreaded holes 33 of the plates or bar-like elements 28, whereby, when the screws are tightly screwed home, the parts will be firmly and securely clamped in their assembled relations, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of said Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Having thus described the general construction of the sign, I will now briefly set forth the manner of securing the face-plates and letter-plates in their respective positions upon one or both sides of the sign-frame, according as to whether the sign is to be used as a wall-sign, or is to extend at an angle, usually at right angles, from the wall. The first step in the operation is usually to loosely fasten the upper portions of the face-plates operator to place one arm and his hand back of the plates, so as to guide the plate or barlike elements 24 against the ends of the screws 26, whereby the screws can be screwed into lace, and the parts loosely assembled. This oose arrangement of the end face-plates and letter-plates permits the operator to arrange the finding means or clamping device, which comprises the plates or elements 28 and retaining plates 29, in the relative posi tions indicater in said Fig. 7, and by laterally sliding each device from right to left, or Vice versa, by taking hold of holding members 30, the holes 33 and 35 can be brought directly back of the holes 37 in the end faceplates or letter-plates, thus enabling a quick and easy insertion of the ends of the screws 36 through the holes 37 and 35, and into the enlarged or tapered portions 34, so as to be tightly screwed into the screw-holes All the screws 26 and 36 can then be tightly screwed home, so as to firmly secure the several face-plates and the letter-plates in position, and the sign is ready for use.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will be clearly seen, that have produced a simple sign-construction, which enables the various face-plates and letter-plates to be secured in position, or to be removed from the sign-frame to make necessary changes or repairs, or to slightly loosen the plates, when it is nesessary to get at the circuit-wires contained within the frame.

Of course it will be evident, that various changes maybe made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of my present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts thereof, as described in the foregoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of the said parts, except as defined by the scope of said claims.

I claim 1. In a sign, the combination. with an open-faced frame, of a series of face and letter plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a platelike element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member connected with said retaining plate for securing the edge-portion of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, and means for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

2. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, of a series of face and letter plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member connected with said retaining plate for securing the edge-portion of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, said plate-like elements, retaining-plates and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

3. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced. frame, of a series of face and letter plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member connected with said retaining plate for securing the edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, said plate-like elements being provided with screw-threaded holes formed with enlarged open portions providing finding means, said retaining-plates and said face and letter-plates being provided with correspondingly disposed openings, and screws for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

4. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, of a series of face and letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a platelike element, a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member upon the upper portion of said retaining plate fitted over the upper edge of the platelike element, a second holding member at the lower portion of said retaining plate for securing the edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, and means for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

5. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, of a series of face and letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a platelike element, a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding m ember upon the upper portion of said retaining plate fitted over the upper edge of the platelike element, a second holding member at the lower portion of said retaining plate for securing the edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, said plate-like elements, retaining-plates and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

6. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, of a series of face and letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame, and slidable fastening devices for securing said plates in position, each fastening device comprising a plate-like element, a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member upon the upper portion of said retaining plate fitted over the upper edge of the platelike element, a second holding member at the lower portion of said retaining plate for securing the edge-portion of said face and letter-plates to said fastening devices, said plate-like elements being provided with screw-threaded holes formed with enlarged open portions providing finding means, said retaining-plates and said face and letterplates being provided with correspondingly disposed openings, and screws for securing said fastening devices in fixed positions.

7. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of plates adapted to be ar ranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper ed e-portions of said plates to said flange, and s idable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and means for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

8. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and slidable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said plates to said flange, said slidable fastening devices and said plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

9. In a sign, thecombination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a mar inal flange, of a series of faceand letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter-plates being provided with screwreceiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and slidable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate u on one face of said plate-like element, a holc ing member connected with said retaining plate for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said slidable fastening devices, and means for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

10. In a sign, the combination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of faceand letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and slidable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member connected with said retaining plate for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said slidable fastening devices, said plate-like elements, retaining plates and lower portions of said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

11. In a sign, the combination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of face and letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and slidable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device com rising a plate-like element, and a retaining p ate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member connected with said retaining plate for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said slidable fastening devices, said plate-like elements being provided with screw-threaded holes formed with enlarged open portions providing finding means, said retaining plates and the lower portions of said face and letter-plates being provided with correspondingly disposed openings, and screws for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

12. In a sign, the combination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of faceand letterplates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and. screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said Cplates to said flange, and slidable fastening evices for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and let ter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member upon the upper portion of said retaining p ate fitted over the upper edge of the plate-like element, a second. holding, member at the lower portion of said retaining plate for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said slidable fastening devices, and means for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

13. In a sign, the combination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of faceand letter-plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and s idable fastening devices for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device com )rising a plate-like element, and 'a retainingp ate upon one face of said plate-like element, a holding member upon the upper portion of said retaining ate fitted over the upper edge of the plateike element, a second holding member at the lower portion of said. retaining plate for securing the lower edge-portions of said face and letter-plates to said slidable fastening devices, said plate-like elements, retaining lates, and lower portions of said face and etter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing said slidable fastening devices in fixed positions.

14. In a sign, the combination, with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of faceand letter plates adapted to be arranged over the open face of the frame and upon the flange, fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, said plate-like elements and said face and letter-plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and screws for securing the upper edge-portions of said plates to said flange, and slidable fastening devices for securing the lower edge portions of said face and letter-plates upon said flange, each slidable fastening device comprising a plate-like element, and a retaining plate upon one face of said plate like element, a holding member upon the upper portion of said retaining plate fitted over the upper edge of the platelike element, a second holding member at the lower portion of said retaining plate for sescrews for securing said s curing the lower edge-portion of said face and letterlates to said slidable fastening devices,

said p ate'like elements being provided with screw-threaded holes formed with enlarged open portions providing finding means, said retaining plates and the lower portions of said face and letter-plates being provided with correspondingly disposed openings, and

idable fastening devices in fixed positions.

15. In a sign, the combination with an open-faced frame, surrounded by a marginal flange, of a series of face and letter-plates, said plates being provided with screw-receiving holes, and said plates being adapted to be arranged over the open face of said frame and upon said flange, and fastening devices consisting of plate-like elements 24, each platelike element being provided with a screwthreaded hole located nearer to one end of said element than to its other end, so that said plate-like elements before being tightly screwed in their fiXed positions will hang vertically, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. The herein described fastening device consistin of a plate-like element and a retaining plate arranged upon the face of said element, the lower end-portion of said retaining plate being bent-over to provide a holding portion, said retaining plate being provided with a screw-receiving opening, and said plate-like element being provided with a screw-threaded hole formed with an enlarged open portion which registers with the opening in said retaining plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. The herein described fastening device consisting of a plate-like element and a retaining plate arranged upon the face of said element, the lower end-portion of said retaining plate being bent-over to provide a holding portion, and said retaining plate being provided upon its upper portion with a bentover part forming a holding portion which embraces the upper edge of said plate-like element, said retaining plate being provided with a screw-receiving opening, and said plate-like element being provided with a screw-threaded hole formed with an enlarged open portion which registers with the opening in said retaining plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. A sign comprising an open-faced frame, made of sheet-metal, and reinforcing braces 10 and 11 arranged and secured upon the inner faces of the end-pieces, and the top and bottom pieces of said frame, and angle-irons secured in the corners formed by said braces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. A sign comprising an open-faced frame, made of sheet-metal, and reinforcing braces 10 and 11 arranged and secured upon the inner faces of the end-pieces, and the top and forth above I have hereunto set my hand? bottom pieces of said frame, and angle-irons this 19th day of September, 1907.

secured in the corners formed by said braces and cross-stays extending from brace to EDGAR VVOLFE' 5 brace across the interior of said frame, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as and for the purposes set forth. FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL,

In testimony, that I claim the invention set ANNA H. ALTER. 

